5 (Spoiler-Filled) Lingering Questions About Oblivion

Photo courtesy Universal Pictures

Did you like 2001: A Space Odyssey,Wall-E and Independence Day? Then Oblivion, the Tom Cruise vehicle from director Joseph Kosinski (Tron: Legacy) that opened this weekend will certainly seem familiar. That’s not to say it’s derivative — it’s definitely got it’s own story and voice — but in the melee of plot twists and sci-fi homages, there are more than a few questions that go unanswered.

That’s not necessarily a bad thing, because it’s fun to mull and debate a movie’s finer points and Oblivion is a solidly fun sci-fi flick. But there are a few things in the movie that get left hanging (unless we missed something). And now that the movie is in theaters and a lot of people have had the chance to see it (Oblivion brought in $38.2 million at the box office this weekend) it only seems right that we talk about it. Did anyone else think some questions were left unanswered? Were they distracting, or just amusing? Are we taking this thing too seriously? That’s what we’re here to figure out.

(Spoiler alert: Major plot points follow in the text below. Proceed with caution.)

But first a primer for those who haven’t seen the movie but want to read this and don’t mind being spoiled on Oblivion. The latest imagining of the end of the world takes place some 60 years after Earth has been destroyed in an alien war. The planet has been largely evacuated to one of Saturn’s moons, and the desolate planet is now policed by drones while gigantic outposts turn the planet’s sea water into energy for the distant human colony (or, at least, that’s what we’re led to believe at the onset). Jack (Cruise) and Victoria (Andrea Riseborough) handle drone maintenance. They’re due to finish their tours of duty when Jack discovers a band of humans led by a man named Beech (Morgan Freeman) that still lives on Earth.

What Jack unearths — literally and metaphorically — is that those he had been led to believe were alien “Scavs” are not extra-terrestrial squatters but human survivors and the great Sally in the sky (Melissa Leo) may not be who he thinks she is. Also, Jack has found a woman named Julia (Olga Kurylenko), whose vessel was called down to Earth by the Scavs and whom he recognizes from his dreams.

Along the way to Jack’s discovery of the truth are myriad thoughts and questions that arise for viewers. None make Oblivion any less enjoyable — it’s still a wicked fun ride — but they’re hard to shake after leaving the theater. Here are a few we’re still pondering.

1. Why are the Scavs dressing up like aliens (or something)?

In the beginning we’re led to believe that Jack occasionally encounters “Scavs” — beings that he thinks are alien scavengers trying to mess with the energy-producing outposts he protects. However, in the film’s conclusion we find out Jack is one of many clones of himself made by the actual alien invaders and that the Scavs are humans in disguise trying to get them off the planet. If the Scavs know Jack and his ilk are clones – and they’re looking to befriend one to help with their cause – why do they dress up? Surely just saying, “Hey, Clone Jack! Over here! We’re human!” would have saved some time, no? Unless maybe they think the costumes throw off the speedy, all-seeing drones?

2. Why did the aliens clone humans?

One of the biggest reveals in Oblivion is that Jack is one of many clones of a great NASA astronaut taken by the aliens. These clones are kept on hand Matrix-style. Presumably, they wanted clone Jack because he was a smart scientist who might help with their drone situation, but surely if their business is warring with and colonizing other planets, they could’ve created another being – any other being – to do the same, right? Also, how did a clone get Jack’s memories? Were they downloaded Cylon-style somehow?

3. How is it that 20th century technology works on a future planet obliterated by war?

In Oblivion Earth has been so ravaged by nuclear war that only drones dare circulate in parts of it. There also is a fully-functioning record player with records — in a lean-to in the woods. On the off-chance that there were still power lines nearby, it seems highly unlikely any power plant is still pumping the energy needed to use it. It’s possible that there’s some solar power or the like — what is that switch he flips, anyway? — but how Jack would have been able to rig that up on a planet largely devoid of, well, everything, is a little peculiar.

4. Why use Earth’s sea water for hydrogen energy?

The precious pods out at sea are, apparently, extracting hydrogen from sea water to use for energy. While this seems logical enough in theory, what’s not explained is why the Earth’s oceans would need to be mined for the most abundant element in the universe.

5. Is the Moon still slowly crashing down on Earth?

During the war, a big chunk of the Moon was blown up and we’re told this led to tsunamis and other such ecological disasters. But what’s unclear is whether or not it is still crumbling (though it appears to be) and whether or not those chunks ever hit Earth.

These are the questions we’re still pondering. If you’ve got any insights, or further questions to keep us up at night, by all means, let us know.